Our Behind the Build series continues this week with a role that isn’t often associated with the manual labor-heavy construction industry: the office administrator. Even though we talk a lot about life on the jobsite here at I Build America, office administrators are equally important to our industry. Without them, our projects wouldn’t simply not move forward.
Office administrators are more than just paper pushers. But what exactly do they do on a daily basis? The answer varies company to company, and day to day. The easiest way to summarize the responsibilities of an office administrator is that they oversee office procedures. But that simple statement encompasses countless tasks that impact every single project. Like the skilled laborers we covered in our last Behind the Build post, office administrators must be adaptable. No two days are alike for an office administrator. Generally speaking, they are responsible for things like:
- Cash management: managing the inflows and outflows of funds.
- Accounting and bookkeeping: recording a company’s financial transactions.
- Human resources: managing and developing employees.
- Sales: supporting the selling of products or services.
- Project management: coordinating individual tasks to meet specific goals.
- Customer relationship management: maintaining customer interactions and long-term loyalty.
On any given day, an office administrator will balance a variety of assignments, seamlessly jumping from task to task. One moment, they might be analyzing and interpreting company financials, which requires an incredible attention to detail and financial know-how, and then the next they might be coordinating office functions with excellent communication skills that inspire employees across all departments. Some days, office administrators will be busy responding to business inquiries. Other days, they’ll prioritize general customer service with existing clients. They might keep track of project deadlines and the progress being made toward that deadline or they may set project meetings and clearly communicate deliverables in a typed document. The roles and responsibilities are endless. Given the many hats they wear, this is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about the construction industry and who loves variety in their work day.
When it comes to working conditions, the office administrator, as the job title probably gives away, is typically based in an office setting. They might work in the main office at company headquarters or in a field office at a large jobsite. Given this work environment, an office administrator should have strong IT skills and be comfortable in a professional setting. This career is perfect for those who dream of working in the construction industry but are not interested in or able to take on labor-intensive work on the construction site. Even better? The office administrator is typically considered to be a part of the management team, which means there is a lot of advancement opportunity for a long-lasting career.
Office administrators may not be physically building structures or completing routine maintenance, but as you’ve read, they are an important piece of the construction industry puzzle. We will continue to break down the many roles that play a part in every construction project in the future weeks. Stay tuned for our next post in our Behind the Build series, which will give you an overview of the management team in the construction industry.
